Win XP admin account, can log in, cannot change password... any help?

[Todd Woods]

I recieved a new laptop, with a Windows XP pro install. It was loaded
with a basic install image which on inital bootup asks the user to
setup the admin password. However my install did not ask me... It
simply booted me into windows as administrator, and did nothing. Now
everytime i start the machine it takes me into windows, as
administrator, without requiring me to type a login, but i do not have
the admin passowrd.

Is there anyway for me to recover/change the password while logged in
as admin, but without knowing the admin password..?? The change
program inside of user administrator asks for your current password...

???? i know it sounds strange ???

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

To change/add password:
Go to User Accounts in Control Panel
Select the user.
From there you can change the password.

Or if you want to be asked which user to login:
Start/Run
Type "control userpasswords2" ENTER
Check "Users must enter...

Click OK and follow prompts.

 

[Todd Woods]

This method still asks me for the admin password... the first line
requests the current password, so this method is not going to work for
me..

I need to change it without knowing the admin password, but am logged
in as admin.

 

[Ben]

Could it be that the admin password is blank? or is just named 'password'
or 'admin' or 'administrator' ?
If your logging in all the time, but dont have a password, then it implies
that there isnt a password set..

Try changing with the above, and see if it works..

 

[Guest]

Todd,
Right click on 'My Computer' and click on 'Manage'.
In the window that opens you will see the 'Local Users and Groups' folder on
the left side. Click on Users and you will see the users of the machine.
Right click on the user you're trying to change the pwd for and reset the
password. This will not ask you for the exisitng pwd.

That should fix your issue.

- Vikram

 

[Todd Woods]

From what I can see if the password is blank, the password changing
tool won't let you change it... it looks to see if any of the fields
are null, and stops if they are.

On a lighter note... at the commmand line..

net user <username> <newpassword> changes it without asking for the
actual pass.. (if you are logged in as the <username> )